Nervousness in the 19th Century - 1283 Words

Nervousness was a condition described, according to Dr. George M. Beard, â€Å"strictly deficiency or lack of nerve-force† (American Nervousness, vi) in the 19th century. Nervousness at the time, was commonly acknowledged and accepted, so much so that it was written into literature, such as many of Jane Austen’s works. Many doctors considered nervousness to be a â€Å"woman’s disease† meaning that women were the most afflicted by this condition. Doctors of the 19th century have found excuses to restrict, restrain, objectify and metaphorically and literally lock women away, more specifically with the diagnosis of nervousness and other diseases that branch out from â€Å"the nerves†. Dr. George M. Beard’s book, American Nervousness published in 1881. At†¦show more content†¦Is Hysteria, like nervousness, a legitimate medical problem or was it a way for women to escape the harsh realities of their lives or receive attention from their neglectful husbands? In the Los Angeles Times short article â€Å"Shattered Nerves† published in 1889 a normal school girl’s sanity is questioned. Brought before Judge Cheney, Alice Miller was deemed not insane and was sent to State Normal Institute for a year. â€Å"After a thorough investigation the commissioners decided that, while exhibiting much nervousness, the young lady is not insane†¦It is thought that this has affected her so severely that her nervous system has gone to pieces†¦and is affected with melancholia† (â€Å"Shattered Nerves†). The article concludes with, â€Å"There will be another examination Monday, when it will be decided what to do with the young lady.† This article does not detail what could have brought on Alice Miller’s nervousness, was it due to schooling or stress? Along these lines, women at the time were not allowed to pursue a higher education because too much stress would cause menstrual problems a nd that would mostly likely result in insanity. Could Alice have been overwhelmed due to school, was there a family issue occurring, was she on her menstrual cycle or could her nervousness been caused by the weather? The Los Angeles Times article â€Å"A New Crank,† a more severe case, an unnamed woman who was immensely fulfilled by her spirituality believed that she was meant to takeShow MoreRelatedThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman871 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1892, a short story by the name of â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a well-known author and feminist of the late 19th century. The story was initially inspired by her personal experiences and the actions that followed after. Although the story was correlated to actual events, many of the scenes described in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† prove to be exaggerated in comparison to the author’s experience. 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This effect is develop by the use of complex symbols such as, the room, the wallpaper, the window which facilitates herRead More American Modernization Essay598 Words   |  3 Pagesturn of our present century, changes in culture and society of America triggered modernization throughout much of our commerce, social, artistic and educational lives. The past century or so has brought new obstacles and opportunities for the nation of America. This changing is reflected through some of the works by writers such as, Robert Frost, William Williams, Ezra Pound, and T.S. Eliot. Examining people’s mindset in modernization on e common feeling of people is â€Å"nervousness† which is due to theRead MoreFemale Hysteria Essay1046 Words   |  5 PagesVisualize a 19th century psychiatrist strolling through an asylum to check on his patients. The psychiatrist then comes across a padded cell containing an emotionally disturbed woman. 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These sameRead Moreâ€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†: A Comparison Introduction2266 Words   |  10 Pagesreceived wide praise for its accurate depiction of madness and the symptoms attributed to mental breakdowns (Shumaker 1985).  Ã‚   While these symptoms may seem obvious from today’s p sychological perspective, Gilman was writing at the close of the 19th century when the discipline of psychology was still emerging out of a rudimentary psychiatric approach to treating the mentally ill. Though doctors have attempted to write about the treatment of insanity since ancient Greece, the history of madness hasRead More`` The Yellow Wallpaper `` And `` It s A Girl ``1651 Words   |  7 Pagesall ages, culture, and religion face this injustice. Every once in the while, in a field of trampled flowers, one robust plant stands and over time grows into a strong tree that protects the other mangled flowers, helping them flourish. In the 19th century, one of these strong plants was Charlotte Perkins Gilmans, who wrote â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† to challenge the ideals of society and their treatment towards women. Gilman, faced with the discriminatory and prejudiced challenges of her gender, her